Archive By Section - On The Road

CARLTON, Ore. (AP) - Driving southwest from Portland an hour or so through the suburbs, you hit the heart of Oregon's wine country rather suddenly. Here the mountainous Coast Range slopes to the Willamette Valley floor, which is smothered with vineyards that produce some of the best pinot noir on earth.

SECOND MESA, Ariz. (AP) - A road trip to the Four Corners region of the Southwest offers a window into Native American culture, from ruins older than any other man-made structure in the U.S., to glimpses of contemporary life amid the Navajo and Hopi. Named for the spot where the borders of four states - Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona - intersect, the Four Corners region is also home to surreal landscapes like the Painted Desert and Monument Valley.

There's a little game I like to play when I first get into a test car. It's called "Guess the Price" – and it can influence the first impression. It's the dollar number that I'd pay for the vehicle – and often I'm wrong, on the low side.

SACRAMENTO – Do you have questions about general driving related requirements like registration and insurance? Are you unclear about laws and restrictions related to driving? The California Department of Motor Vehicles has answers. Save Time. Go Online at www.DMV.ca.gov.

With gas prices on an eternal upswing drivers are looking for ways to alleviate the pain at the pump. Some simple steps can make a big difference in your fuel economy so you can save money and get the most out of every gallon.

HUNTINGTON BEACH - If you grew up in the '60's, the term "Surf City" has the power to tap into memories that bring back a flood of emotions ranging from your first encounters with the opposite sex to your earliest addiction to rock and roll. No matter where you were in the USA, you knew that Surf City was on some California beach where there were "two girls for every boy."

Phil Waterford, President and Owner of Manteca Ford, collects sports memorabilia, some of which he proudly displays at his North Main Street Ford Dealership. Waterford has autographed basketballs from NBA superstars Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Julius Erving. He also has autographed baseballs from Bo Jackson, Hank Aaron and Cal Ripken Jr. Phil has met most of these athletes personally, and has had the pleasure of accommodating many of their automotive needs.

August 24, 2012|
By MARGARITA SOTO
Special to the Bulletin
|On The Road